Window on the World
By Randal Dick
Superintendent of missions
God rescued Villie
This is a story that has to be told. At times God intervenes at the same level as the stories given in the Scripture to establish our faith. This is one of those situations—where all you can do is marvel at God’s love and grace—and his sense of irony.
This is the story of Vilma—or Villie as she is affectionately known. Villie didn’t have a good start in life. In fact, it would match stories in Scripture for its tragedy and hopelessness. Let’s pick the story up as told by Villie’s adoptive parents, Bill Sidney, Philippine regional director, and his wife, Daphne.
Bill, Vilma and Daphne Sidney
Vilma Sidney after surgery
As licensed foster parents in the Philippines, we were asked if we would like to take in a three-day-old baby girl. We were a little hesitant at first, but after seeing this tiny and vulnerable little baby lying in a cloth-covered cardboard box, we could not refuse.
Vilma was delivered to our home on her fifth day of life, and so our story began.
On the seventh day, Vilma became ill. We took her to the hospital, where she began wilting like a little flower in front of us. The doctor examined her and found she had severe infections, and did not hold out much hope for her little body to recover.
We discovered that she had suffered a septic birth that resulted in a severe bacterial infection, a necrotizing infection, which proceeded to gangrene. She also had bronchial pneumonia, necrotizing of the intestine and sepsis of the blood. Vilma spent the next 18 days in the hospital under intensive care with strong antibiotics and steroids in a race for her life against the virulent infections.
One night when it seemed all had given up hope, Bill received a call at home to say that Vilma was dying. He rushed to the hospital and prayed and anointed little Villie. The social worker and nurses participated in the prayer, after which a peacefulness filled the room. We felt encouraged that she was going to make it.
With the prayers of many and by God’s grace and mercy, which he poured out, Vilma bravely held on to life. The gangrene was halted, but it took most of her nose, which eventually healed, but left a significant deformity.
Next began our search for a doctor to reconstruct her nose. As a baby we took her to a top plastic surgeon in Australia, who advised us to wait until she was older. The doctor who examined her was encouraging as he said there was no internal damage.
We realized then how wonderful God’s timing was in his intervention for Vilma. If the infection had progressed any farther, this would have necessitated internal plastic tubing.
As Vilma grew older and became increasingly conscious of her deformity, we realized it was time to look again. As a parent, it was painful to see her endure the stares, whispers, isolation and teasing.
Vilma wanted desperately to join other children in play, but would hold back for fear of repeated questioning, stares or outright rejection. We were thankful for the church environment, which provided an environment of love and acceptance for her.
After searching, we were referred to a plastic surgeon in Boston, Massachusetts, a Harvard professor of plastic surgery who is an Australian. On April 12 Vilma had her first stage of operations, which were to be about four in all. Her breathing passage was enlarged and a tissue expander was inserted in her forehead to stretch the skin and tissue to be used for her nose covering.
We were blessed with a free apartment through the Hospitality program, where people offer a place in their home to families coming for medical treatment. We received a whole apartment—the only one in the program. This meant we could come to Boston as a family, including Villie’s older sister, Angelika.
On May 24 Vilma had the major operation, where her nose was reconstructed. Tissue was taken from her forehead for the covering, and the little flap which she previously had was used for the internal lining, and a portion of bone was taken from her rib to form a bone graft for the structure of her nose.
The first two nights were painful, but she has made a remarkable recovery with the sutures healing beautifully. We can see God’s hand in her healing—people all around the globe have been praying for her.
While we were waiting during the four-hour operation, we "happened" upon the biblical account of Jairus. It tells how he sought Jesus and "begged him earnestly" for his daughter. It was a meaningful passage, especially the words Jesus said, "Don’t be afraid, only believe."
As a parent, seeing the pain, tears, her bruised and swollen face, and the pleadings of Vilma to go home, there were times we could easily have given in and turned back. But all along we have had encouragement from God in so many ways.
What a lesson in life—just keep moving forward.
People have been kind, have sent cards and gifts, and have said encouraging words. Strangers have told us that this girl is going to be blessed, that she has a beautiful spirit.
A missionary from the Philippines also sent us this verse, which was of great encouragement, Zephaniah 3:17: "in his love he will give you new life." Vilma truly now has a new life ahead of her. And we know that this has been made possible by God’s love.
From a baby born under poor conditions, she has been brought by God’s grace to a Harvard-trained plastic surgeon for world class treatment. We can only describe this as God’s love and grace for his little children whom Jesus never turned away.
The operations are completed. Since Vilma healed so rapidly, the surgeon was able to complete the process in the third operation.
As parents we are grateful for the gifted doctors and nurses involved, and for the prayers of God’s people, which we know have made a difference for Vilma, and have strengthened us as a family in facing this together. All praise and glory to him.
From Randal Dick
My wife, Susie, and I visited the Sidneys in Boston between the first and second surgeries.
What was most inspiring was something Bill said. Just before visiting the Sidneys, I had been in a theology class. One day the professor was talking about God’s response to us—why in a tragedy, some are rescued and some die.
He was saying that God does change his mind, that he is moved by the situations in which his children find themselves. He said that petitionary prayer is not something that is of limited value because the outcome is already determined in God’s mind.
I had been mulling that over, seeking to understand God’s unchanging yet compassionate nature.
Bill was talking about the night he was summoned to the hospital because Vilma was dying. Bill said: "I didn’t just pray, I begged God for Vilma’s life. The whole staff in the room gathered in prayer, and there I was kneeling on the floor, crying like a baby and begging God for Vilma’s life."
And here is this wonderful little girl (rapidly growing up to be a big girl) who was well. She came from a situation of nothing, and yet, by God’s grace has two of the most loving parents one could hope for, and is in Boston, being cared for by arguably the top surgeon in the world for this kind of operation.
If your eyes are a little moist about now, don’t feel alone, so are mine.
Finally, to add blessing upon blessing, the Philippine courts have finalized the decree, after several years of process, that makes Vilma officially Vilma Sidney. Our congratulations and our love go out to the Sidneys. Thank you for sharing this incredibly edifying account of God’s love.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2001